Episode 4: 7 Habits of Highly Effective Homemakers

When you hear the word balanced life, what comes to mind first? Relationships, work, fitness, health, and emotional well-being? Yes, of course, but we rarely think about the home environment and how it supports our well-being. After carefully considering and studying creating a healthy home environment, I realized that everyone needs to develop essential habits that housewives do very effectively in their daily lives. Are you single and want to be an independent, working mother, young or old, with or without help, or a stay-at-home mom or dad? It would be best if you had these important habits.

But before that, I want to share a quick story with you. It is about my real-life homemaking mentor, ang Ate Perlie ko, and how a visit to her house inspired me. 

My name is Elisa. Welcome to the Café Tayo where I share what God has put on my heart. Dinala ako ng Diyos sa maraming karanasan sa buhay. Kaya naman narito ako para ishare ito sa inyo at sa mga susunod pang henerasyon. So grab your favorite coffee, make yourself at home and join me as God equips us on what to take each day.

The title of this 4th episode is the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Homemakers.

May isa akong mas nakakatandang kapatid na babae na sobrang sipag maglinis ng bahay at mangalaga ng kanyang pamilya. Ang una kong napansin sa kanya ay ang maayos na nakasalansan ang mga gamit sa loob ng bahay kahit ang dami, hindi magulong tingnan. kahit magbukas ka ng cabinet niya, para kang bumisita sa department store dahil nakafold ng pantay-pantay, pati yung mga nakahanger sobrang neat! Marunong ka ba magtupi ng mga fitted sheets? ask her how. Maganda ang atmosphere ng bahay niya, so light, very comfortable at warm. Marami rin siyang maghanda ng pagkain, lahat ng favorite food makikita mo sa table! Bubusugin ka talaga dahil masarap din siyang magluto! Habang kumakain nag-eenjoy kami sa napakaraming kwentuhan. 

Nakikita ko ang maraming memories sa table na iyon, ang mga holidays at special occasions na sinecelebrate, hosted parties, at mga friends na very welcome sa kanyang tahanan. Alam kong napaka strong ng bond niya sa kanyang family. She guided them with a strong faith and grace. Dahil mahusay na teacher ang kapatid ko, nagtayo siya ng sariling school. Maraming kamag-anak ang nagbenefit sa school na yun. Although my sister is a widow and our parents are gone, she has been our strong pillar. Sabi sa nabasa ko, "Everyone needs a home to live in, but a supportive family is what builds a home." And that's my sister to us. 

Hindi naman kakaiba ang ate ko sa iba. Pero ang balanseng pamumuhay niya bilang entrepreneur at homemaker ay nakakainganya para gawing magandang halimbawa sa buhay ko. Marami rin siyang natulungan na mga tao na magkaroon ng trabaho at mga batang napag-aral ng libre sa kanyang school. 

Habang tinitingnan ko ang mga homemakers na naging malaking influence sa aking buhay, Nakatulong ito sa akin na ayusin ang aking mga iniisip. Dumaan ako sa trial and error. Ang motherhood ay may parehong advantage at disadvantage. Kaya sa pagkakataong ito, let's learn the seven essential homemaking habits that highly effective homemakers embrace.

Habit #1: Live with Vision

A pleasant home to live in doesn’t just happen. Dapat mavisualized mo muna. Kung di mo alam kung saan ka pupunta, paano ka makakarating?

Effective homemakers have a vision.

kailangan natin ng matinding pag-iisip na may kasamang panalangin para maging makatotohanan ang isang puno ng kaayusan at mapayapang tahanan. Talagang tinatrabaho yun!

But it all starts with the vision.

Sasamantalahin ko ang opportunity na ito para pasalamatan ang Lord sa lahat ng Kanyang nagawa at ginagawa sa aking buhay. I have so many mistakes sa aking mga napagdaanan na naging dahilan para evaluate ko ang nakaraan at matutunan ko kung paano ang buhay ko ay umayon sa kalooban ng Diyos. Salamat sa Kanyang never ending grace na nagpalaya sa akin sa condemnation na bigyan ko rin ng grace ang sarili ko, whether sa motherhood ba yan o sa pagdevelop ng orderly and peaceful home!

Habit #2: Follow a Daily Routine

Sabi nga, effective homemakers don’t just let life happen to them. They have a plan.

kailangan mo ng sistema para mag work out ang naeenvision mo para sa bahay mo. Ito yung makakatanggal ng stress at overwhelming na mga obligations sa buhay.

Siyempre naman minsan di mo magagawa palagi. One time, nagkasakit ako, sobrang overwhelming sa akin to keep the house in good order. Pwede ka talagang ma-interrupt ng pagkakasakit, o maybe nagbrown-out, nawalan ng tubig, o may family affairs at circumstances na outside sa iyong control.

We live in a time when family life is very busy. Napakaraming dapat tandaan at napakaraming dapat gawin sa bawat araw. I can show you what my schedule currently looks like. I call it Daily Routines. Message me on my messenger account. It will also give you some helpful ideas for creating your own schedule. 

Habit #3: Get Up Early

Sabi sa nabasa ko sa isang article, the most successful people get up early. Kapag nagising ka ng mas maaga, may advantage ka na magkaroon ng some quiet time para sa sarili mo para magbasa, magpray, o kaya magexercise, or just get your day started.

As of now, nag-open ako ng store just a table with coffee and some snacks at the front of our house, dati online lang. During weekdays ko ito ginagawa at tatlong oras lang sa hapon, kaya maaga akong gumigising to do my quiet times and household chores.

Habit #4: Plan Meals

Consider preparing meals with local and seasonal ingredients. During my early stage in marriage, ang mother-in-law ko minsan sinasama niya akong mamili. Nagbabase siya sa kung ano ang available sa local market o sa mismong lugar ng mga bagsakan ng sariwang pagkain. Mas makakamura nga naman at mas marami ang mabibili mo sa konting budget. Much better if you have a plan. 

And also add foods that are rich in nutrient values. How can we know that? Just buy more of the darker-colored fruits and vegetables. Available naman sa palengke ang mga fresh meats. Pwede rin naman ang frozen meats pero huwag i-stock ng lalagpas sa isang linggo. 

Kung nahihirapan kang magplano ng iyong mga meals at kailangan mo ng tulong sa area na ito, dm me and I can give you a copy of my 4-week cycle menu. Magiging madali sa iyo na gumawa ng shopping list.

Habit #5: Declutter and Organize

Ang decluttering ay nangangailangan ng consistency. Ito yung mga bagay na paulit-ulit na ginagawa para maging habit. Hindi pwede yung mag-declutter tayo ngayon tapos tapos na. 

Alam ko, isa pa itong challenging, lalo na kung maliit ang space.

We have a relatively small space for our family. Kahit na may mga pangarap akong balang-araw ay magkaroon ng maraming spaces and storage, for now, I must actively work to keep clutter away and find a home for everything within the limits of our small space.

Once you’ve decluttered everything, make sure each item has a place, and your home will be so much easier to keep organized!

Habit #6: Use a Cleaning Schedule

Over the years, gumagamit ako ng isang plano, hindi man perfect pero pinanatili nitong organized ang isip ko kapag may plan akong sinusundan. If I miss a day, I can still catch up on another day. Ang mahalaga ay nagagawa ito. 

I can give you also my cleaning schedule bilang example. I developed my E-CLEAN daily routines. If you need help in this area, dm mo lang ako. I also highly recommend looking into FlyLady or Clean Mama on the internet. They are so inspiring na nakagawa ako ng sarili kong cleaning schedule dahil dito.

Ito yung sistema ng housework na kasalukuyang ginagamit ko para sa amin. Kung may helper ka, pwede niyang sundan ito para sayo.

Habit #7: Cultivate a Cheerful, Thankful Spirit

This is the most important habit.

Parang Mother Teresa, “It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.” Ito yung susi para maging selfless tayo sa ating pamilya. Hindi mo na iisipin kung gaano kabigat ang mga trabahong bahay, you will still slow down and focus on how to serve your family with love. There is always time for what matters most to you.

Huwag mong isipin na sinasabi ko na hindi ka effective homemaker kung nag-struggle ka sa depression o discouragement at times. Lahat tayo ay dumaranas sa mga panahon na yan. At kung mas malalim pa ang struggle mo, okay lang na humingi ng tulong.

When that difficult situation arises as it always will, try to focus sa mga bagay na nakakapag build up sa iyong family. As Philippians 4:8 says, "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable if there is any excellence if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Itapon natin ang pressure ng idealism. Kung sa umpisa ng araw ang sigla natin then 'pag dating ng lunchtime lanta na, okay lang yun, madalas mangyari sa akin yan. Tanggapin natin ang grace ng Lord, don't beat ourselves up. Ang pakikinig at pagsunod kay Hesus ay parang exercise, nagsisimula tayo sa kung saan at lumalago mula doon.

Ito ang isa sa mga main reasons ko kung bakit ako gumigising ng maaga. May pamilya akong inaasikaso at nagpapatakbo ng small business sa bahay. Ibig kong sabihin - I still have time, nagbabasa ako ng few chapters from the bible everyday, nagjojournaling, nagpepray, nakikinig ng podcast, nagk-kdrama, active ako sa social media, naliligo, at nag-aayos sa sarili. Maliliit na bagay na nagbibigay buhay sa akin at nagpapasigla sa araw-araw.

I've been a full-time homemaker for 32 years, and I'm still learning new things and growing. Hindi pa ako ganap na dumating pa don. Habang nagbabago ang ating mga condition sa buhay, we will find our methods and system need to be changed from time to time.

Join me in prayer. Lord, I come to you humbly. Help me to change. Help me to improve so I can be more loving, peaceful, organized, cheerful, and thankful for everything no matter what my condition is. In Jesus' name, amen.

I hope you walk away from this episode feeling encouraged and empowered to create a healthier home and to keep it with a bit more order, without worrying. Be sure to follow me on Spotify, and if this episode was helpful to you, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. If you think someone else would enjoy it and it could help them improve their home environment, please share it with them! And if you share on social media, the hashtag #CafeTayowithElisaCamara would be greatly appreciated!  

In my thoughts,

Elisa